EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND CLIMATE ACTIVISM AT AGE 85+

Abstract Current projected shifts in climate suggest extreme weather events and disasters will become increasingly common and severe. Older adults are a population vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather due to complex mobility, health, and financial situations in later life, affecting their ability to prepare for and respond to extreme weather emergencies. These compound vulnerabilities demonstrate the importance of adequate emergency preparedness among older adults, particularly among the oldest of older adults or the age 85+ demographic. This paper shares findings from a mixed methods study with the MIT AgeLab 85+ Lifestyle Leaders panel, a research panel of U.S. octogenarians and nonagenarians, on climate change, including their perceptions of generational contributions to climate change, extreme weather preparedness, and engagement in climate justice. Utilizing a survey (n=23) and five virtual focus groups (n=19) conducted in July 2022, findings underscore differences in themes related to weather-event-related emergency preparedness among Lifestyle Leaders living in senior housing versus those community-dwelling. Additional themes note a perceived lack of individual agency and control around impacting climate change locally (including a potential life stage effect) and the urgency of climate change as a societal-level and voting issue. The implications of these findings for effective engagement with the over-85 age demographic in conversations about climate change and emergency preparedness will be highlighted.

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of longevity using retrospectively coded autobiographical stories written and recorded from N = 1,858 deceased centenarians (M = 102.79years; SD = 2.25 years) from the state of Oklahoma.Using the Developmental Adaptation Model as a conceptual framework, total number of years lived, the developmental outcome was regressed on socio-demographic characteristics including sex, race, and education, as well as retrospectively coded variables reflecting parental occupation, total years married, age at retirement, engagement in international travel, and self-attributions of longevity.Results confirmed three key predictors of living to 100 years and beyond.First, race was confirmed as a strong predictor of longevity (β = −.65,p < .001).Fatherhood agricultural occupation emerged as second key predictor of living 100 years and longer (β = .42,p < .10).Finally, total years spent in a marriage represented a third predictor of longevity (β = .47,p < .01).Results suggest being a person of color, being raised by a father who made a livelihood working in the agricultural industry, and remaining within a long-term marital union are contributing variables linked to living 100 years and longer.Further detail regarding descriptive and methodological evaluation of retrospectively coded centenarian biographies will be highlighted.Results have implications relative to how gerontological researchers and aging service professionals may evaluate and link autobiographical information of long-lived adults to developmental outcomes such as longevity.

EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS AND CLIMATE ACTIVISM AT AGE 85+
Taylor Patskanick, Sophia Ashebir, Lisa D'Ambrosio, and Joseph Coughlin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States Current projected shifts in climate suggest extreme weather events and disasters will become increasingly common and severe.Older adults are a population vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather due to complex mobility, health, and financial situations in later life, affecting their ability to prepare for and respond to extreme weather emergencies.These compound vulnerabilities demonstrate the importance of adequate emergency preparedness among older adults, particularly among the oldest of older adults or the age 85+ demographic.This paper shares findings from a mixed methods study with the MIT AgeLab 85+ Lifestyle Leaders panel, a research panel of U.S. octogenarians and nonagenarians, on climate change, including their perceptions of generational contributions to climate change, extreme weather preparedness, and engagement in climate justice.Utilizing a survey (n=23) and five virtual focus groups (n=19) conducted in July 2022, findings underscore differences in themes related to weather-event-related emergency preparedness among Lifestyle Leaders living in senior housing versus those community-dwelling.Additional themes note a perceived lack of individual agency and control around impacting climate change locally (including a potential life stage effect) and the urgency of climate change as a societal-level and voting issue.The implications of these findings for effective engagement with the over-85 age demographic in conversations about climate change and emergency preparedness will be highlighted.

INCONSISTENT AND UNPREPARED: HOW FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE
Kathy Gale 1 , Leslie Ruffalo 2 , and Melinda Kavanaugh 1 , 1.

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 2. Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Family caregivers and older adult patients report confusion, inconsistency, and a lack of preparation for postdischarge activities after a hospital stay, leading to hospital readmissions.This multi-disciplinary research project investigated how family caregivers, older adult patients, and hospital clinical and administrative staff experienced the hospital discharge process at a midwestern hospital system.The research team brought together expertise in communityengaged research and bridged multiple specializations, including personal family caregiver experience, community service expertise, community engaged research leadership, and instruction of medical students and social work students.Together, we conducted semi-structured interviews with family caregiver, older adult patients, and hospital personnel via video conference and telephone.We analyzed the data using open coding strategies and principles of thematic analysis.Themes included the importance of the timing of discharge planning, communication between all systems and individuals included in the discharge process, a lack of clarity regarding the roles in the process, inconsistent identification of the family caregiver, conflicting priorities, and the impact of medication errors.Implications are (1) each organization within the older adult/family caregiver system must determine their role in the post discharge process including the type of services and resources that support older adults and family caregivers and (2) the current system of healthcare, public sector, and community must determine how to adapt and change to support older adults and their family caregivers during the post-discharge period.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES, LIFE SATISFACTION, HAPPINESS, AND HEALTH PERCEPTION OF OLDER KOREAN IMMIGRANTS
Juwon Lee 1 , Yongseop Kim 2 , Jaehyun Kim 3 , and Junhyoung Kim 2 , 1. Henry M Gunn High School,Palo Alto,California,United States,2. Indiana University,Bloomington,Indiana,United States,3. East Carolina University,Greenville,North Carolina,United States The number of Korean immigrants in the United States has been increasing rapidly, with many facing psychological challenges due to cultural differences, limited resources, and language barriers.These challenges can lead to increased stress, which negatively affects mental health.However, research has shown that leisure activities can have positive effects on health outcomes, particularly for older adults.This study aimed to investigate the relationships among leisure activities, life satisfaction, happiness, and health perception in older Korean immigrants.Convenient sampling was used to recruit 51 Korean adults aged 50-85 from community centers and churches.Results showed that participation in leisure time physical activity (LTPA) predicted life satisfaction and happiness, with outdoor physical activity being positively associated with psychological well-being.Furthermore, education was significantly related to life satisfaction and health perception among those who engaged in LTPA.The findings suggest that LTPA may be linked to higher levels of happiness, life satisfaction, and health perception in older Korean immigrants.Therefore, offering recreational programs for Korean adults in the United States could potentially improve their overall well-being.By providing opportunities for older Korean immigrants to engage in leisure activities, such as outdoor physical activity, their mental and physical health may be positively impacted.These findings contribute to the growing body of research on the importance of leisure activities for older adults' well-being and highlight the potential benefits of providing recreational programs for minority populations.